Pugilists clash in Bulawayo

Ngqabutho Moyo Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe amateur boxing road to the All-Africa Games, now the African Championships, starts today with a tournament at Manor Hotel. Fireworks are expected in the bill as boxers vie for places in the team to represent Bulawayo at a national selection event set for the Lowveld next weekend. There will be over 15 bouts lined up on the bill.

The tournament will be used as a barometer for the four lightweight pugilists led by Andile Ncube of Tshaka Boxing Club, coached by veteran trainer Philip “Striker” Ndlovu, who will be travelling to Chiredzi to fight in the national championships that will be used to select the African Championships team on March 28.

Some of the boxers expected to travel are Everson Musambidzi of Nkulumane, Samson Masiyambumbi of Nketa, Milton Moyo of Lobengula, Wiseman Tshuma of Lobengula and welterweighter Brighton Masiyambumbi.

BBA vice-chairman Ezwell Ndlovu said their wish was to send more pugilists to Chiredzi but funds did not permit.

“We wanted to send a team of 20 boxers comprising of 10 men and 10 women to Chiredzi, but lack of financial resources are forcing us to send six male boxers,” he said.

Ndlovu appealed to the corporate world for financial assistance to add more boxers to the team.

“We appeal to the business community in Bulawayo to assist us with funds or any form of assistance which might help us send more boxers to Chiredzi for the national championships,” he said.

The boxing championships will be held at Gibbo Stadium in Triangle on March 28 while this year’s edition of the African Championships will be held in Congo-Brazzaville from September 4 to 19.